Ella can dive for rings!
And jump off the diving board. Wowza, she's brave.
Two days ago she could scarcely make it to the steps if you pushed her. Today, she swam the length of the steps on the surface and learned side-breathing. Mr. Ian is doing a great job with her.
Clare can already swim on her own, but she is working hard on newer, better skills. Today she was in the lap lane working on strokes and kicks. She's also working on her dives with Miss Emily.
They'll follow up these two week lessons with a three week swim and gym camp at Crenshaws. I'm so excited for them. I've always loved swimming, so I'm glad they do, too.
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Soaking it in
We are loving this summer. For the first time, we are truly big enough for adventure. We live without naps, walk far, carry our own packs. We can read, cross streets properly and explore without much mischief. So we are thick into experiencing all that we can of this thing you people call summer...cause really, it's our first one. :)
Today we visited the Austin Nature and Science Center. We weren't new there, so we played hard with no reservations. We took some of our favorite friends with us for reinforcement.
Some of our nearest and dearest.
Here's Big Dude looking for frogs.
Here they are as explorers digging dinosaur bones...
Adventurers feeding fish...
Climbers working together on their balance...
and strengthening their muscles...
feeding their growing bodies...
and simply loving each other.
What a great day. Thanks, Mags. We adore you.
Today we visited the Austin Nature and Science Center. We weren't new there, so we played hard with no reservations. We took some of our favorite friends with us for reinforcement.
Some of our nearest and dearest.
Here's Big Dude looking for frogs.
Here they are as explorers digging dinosaur bones...
Adventurers feeding fish...
Climbers working together on their balance...
and strengthening their muscles...
feeding their growing bodies...
and simply loving each other.
What a great day. Thanks, Mags. We adore you.
Friday, May 18, 2012
Biggest goodbyes
I cannot begin to express how very blessed we were this year.
These women loved and cared for Clare in ways I did not even imagine she needed. They set down their typical curriculum in order to teach her what she needed most: how to stand up on her own two feet. They held her up and offered her the chance to grow into her full stature. They encouraged her to be a loving and brave friend, and I could not be more grateful. They taught her to read, gave her space to speak her mind, and fostered her sensitive voice. They validated fears, nudged her to engage fully, and showed her how to speak up. She can now stand up and read to her class with confidence. In many ways, I feel like she just had her kindergarten. Next year she will be able to focus on the transition to public school and relax about everything else. We have Mrs. Race and Mrs. McCullough to thank for that.
We celebrated with our school family today at the bowling alley.
The we headed back to school for pizza and popsicles.
The kids were showered with gifts and love.
And had to say some very sad goodbyes.
We will make a lot of changes next year. We have been processing them the best we can as we walk up to them, and we're doing fairly well. Still, the realizations are coming fast and so is the grief that always comes with every change. The hardest realization we've had so far was yesterday when it sunk in for Clare that Mac will not be with her in school next year. At the end of their last real school day together, she got in the van and cried for 45 minutes. She and Mac have been inseparable since they went to Palaestra at Crenshaw's last summer. They save each other seats, push each other on the swings, fight like sisters and defend each other just the same. It's been inspiring to see the tender hearts of these little girls as they have plowed through the new and complicated social aspects of school life side by side. They came through it beautifully by supporting each other.
Today they split Best Friend necklace, so that when they're apart they can remember that they have support out there in the collective heart.
Thankfully, it won't end here. Their friendship has inspired a connection between our families that will continue for years, God willing. They're a big part of our church family and we also share a play group.
Time marches on, but the best things (and people) stay in our hearts forever.
These women loved and cared for Clare in ways I did not even imagine she needed. They set down their typical curriculum in order to teach her what she needed most: how to stand up on her own two feet. They held her up and offered her the chance to grow into her full stature. They encouraged her to be a loving and brave friend, and I could not be more grateful. They taught her to read, gave her space to speak her mind, and fostered her sensitive voice. They validated fears, nudged her to engage fully, and showed her how to speak up. She can now stand up and read to her class with confidence. In many ways, I feel like she just had her kindergarten. Next year she will be able to focus on the transition to public school and relax about everything else. We have Mrs. Race and Mrs. McCullough to thank for that.
We celebrated with our school family today at the bowling alley.
The we headed back to school for pizza and popsicles.
The kids were showered with gifts and love.
And had to say some very sad goodbyes.
We will make a lot of changes next year. We have been processing them the best we can as we walk up to them, and we're doing fairly well. Still, the realizations are coming fast and so is the grief that always comes with every change. The hardest realization we've had so far was yesterday when it sunk in for Clare that Mac will not be with her in school next year. At the end of their last real school day together, she got in the van and cried for 45 minutes. She and Mac have been inseparable since they went to Palaestra at Crenshaw's last summer. They save each other seats, push each other on the swings, fight like sisters and defend each other just the same. It's been inspiring to see the tender hearts of these little girls as they have plowed through the new and complicated social aspects of school life side by side. They came through it beautifully by supporting each other.
Today they split Best Friend necklace, so that when they're apart they can remember that they have support out there in the collective heart.
Thankfully, it won't end here. Their friendship has inspired a connection between our families that will continue for years, God willing. They're a big part of our church family and we also share a play group.
Time marches on, but the best things (and people) stay in our hearts forever.
Olympic style endings
Ella had her last gymnastics class today. She has grown so much with Coach AJ. He supported her perfectly and pushed her gently to be independent. I was so happy for her when I watched her cross the beam all by herself. Today she had the courage to flip over the uneven bars, something she hasn't had the courage to do very often. This little girl has a lot of gusto.
She stood up on that podium with her trophy held high. It was enough to make a mama choke back a sob. A moment like that for a child builds more self esteem than a years worth of compliments. I saw her filled up in that moment with her own pride, soaking up a feeling of accomplishment.
She'll carry that forever; and so will I.
She stood up on that podium with her trophy held high. It was enough to make a mama choke back a sob. A moment like that for a child builds more self esteem than a years worth of compliments. I saw her filled up in that moment with her own pride, soaking up a feeling of accomplishment.
She'll carry that forever; and so will I.
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Saturday, February 11, 2012
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